Distributor for reactive liquids and method of using the same



Sept. 13, 1932. M. D. MANN. JR

DISTRIBUTOR FOR REACTIVE LIQUIDS AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME Filed May 5, 1930 wwntok WW 9. mm

Patented Sept; 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATTHEW Ill-MANN, JR OF NOSELLE, NEW'J'ERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 STANDARD OIL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE DISTRIBUTOR FOR REACTIVE LIQUIDS AND METHOD 0]! USING THE SAME Application filed May 5,

This invention relates to improvements in methods and means for distributing a li uid reagent in or upon a liquid with which it is to react. A particular object of the invention is to provide simple and effective distributin means which are not liable to clogging. a preferred form, such means comprises a rotatable plate mounted in a cyhndrical shield which has a serrated bottom edge. The liquid reagent is fed upon the surface of the rotating late.

The invention will e fully understood from the following description read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the device; and F Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 11-11 of the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a reaction vessel, autoclave, or the like adapted to contain agitable material and which vessel has a covering of heat insulating material 2. Between the heat insulating material and the wall of the vessel are arranged pipes 3 connected to a suitable source of a temperature controlling fluid.

The reaction vessel 1 contains a cylindrical draft tube a supported by straps 5 adjacent the lower part of the reaction vessel. The upper end of the draft tube terminates below and adjoining the normal level of agitable material in the vessel or container 1 to form a relatively narrow layer of the material above the upper end of the tube. A shaft 6 driven by pulley 7 carries at its lower end a propeller or other suitable stirring device 8 which is encircled by the draft tube. The propeller causes a stream of the material to flow in one direction and sets up a complementary counter-stream in the opposite direction. I

An annular shield 4a is suspended from the roof of the container by straps 5. The shield preferably is of substantially the diameter of the draft tube and is disposed coaxially with the draft tube. The shield is disposed above and terminates in spaced relation to the normal levelof the agitable material. A rotatable plate or disc-likermem- 1930. Serial No. 449,842.

ber 9 is mounted by means of a set screw 10 on shaft 6 within the shield. The bottom of the shield has serrations 46. A pipe 11 discharges a liquid reagent upon plate 9. p The reaction vessel is ordinarily provided with a cover 12 and is adapted to withstand whatever pressure may be required by the nature of the reaction. A draw-off line 13 is providedat the bottom of the reaction vessel. When the equipment is to be used in continuous operation, inlet and outlet pipes 14 and 15 are provided respectively for the inflow and outflow of the liquid being treated. Valves 15' and 16 are provided in these pipes. A safety valve 17 is mounted on the cover 12.

The operation of the equipment will be described in connection with the sulfuric acid treatment of heavy petroleum oils but it is not limited to this use. The oil to be treated is charged into the reaction vessel 1 up to the level of the pipes 14 and 15. Sulfuric acid of about 98% strength is run in through pipe 11, while the propeller shaft 6 is being rotated. The sulfuric acid falls on the surface of the plate 9 rotating with the shaft and is thrown outwardly by centrifugal force against the walls of the shield 4a of the draft tube. Thence it runs down and trickles oil' the serrations 4b. In this way, a very fine subdivision of the acid is obtained. Heretofore, spraying devices have been used for this purpose. These are satisfactory when first used but are liable to clogging. By means of the present invention, an equivalent dispersion of acid is obtained without this disadvantage.

The incorporation of the acid with the oil is accomplished in the usual way by the rotation of the propeller 8 in the draft tube 4. v

The temperature of the reaction is controlled by passing cooling liquid through the pipes 3. Ordinarily, it is desirable to keep the temperature below about 10 C.

When the reaction is completed, the product is withdrawn through pipe 13 and allowed to stratify. The oil layer is then separated and treated in any desired way, the acid being re-used until spent. For continuous operation, a series of reaction vessels are provided and the oil is passed through them at a suitable rate.

Instead of using a heat-insulated reaction vessel, provision for external heating may be 5 made. Various other changes and alternative arrangements may be made within the scope of the appended claims in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the prior art permits. I claim:

1. Method of distributing a liquid reagent upon the surface of a liquid, comprising projecting the liquid reagent outwardly by centrifugal force against an intercepting surface above the body of the liquid, and causing the liquid to flow separately from said surface in a plurality of small streams upon the surface of the body of the liquid.

2. Method of supplying a liquid reagent to a charge of reactive liquid, comprising flowing the liquid reagent upon a rotating surface above the body of reactive liquid, intercepting the liquid thrown from the surface and dischar g the liquid separately in a plurality 0 small streams upon the surface of the reactive liquid.

3. Method according to claim 2, in which thesmall streams of the liquid reagent are incorporated in the charge by means of circulation through a draft tube.

4. The method of treating a body of liquid with a liquid agent, which comprises throwing the agent above the body against a substantially vertically disposed obstruction, flowing the agent separately down the obstruction, and dropping the agent in a plurality of small streams from the bottom edge gfdthe obstruction upon the surface of the 5. The method of treating a body of liquid with a liquid agent -which comprises centrifugally throwing the agent above the body against an annular obstruction having its longitudinal axis substantially vertically disposed, flowing the agent down the annular obstruction, and dropping the agent separately in a plurality of small streams from the bottom edge of the annular obstruction upon the surface of the body.

' 6. The method of treating a body of liquid with a liquid agent, which comprises flowing the liquid in a stream in one direction in the body, turning the stream in a relatively shallow area at the surface of the body to set up a complementary downward stream in the body, centrifugally throwing a the agent against an annular obstruction having its longitudinal axis substantially vertically disposed above the body, flowing the agent down the annular obstruction, and dropping the agent separately from the bottom edge of the annular obstruction in small streams upon 65 the surface of the body of the liquid at the shallow area of the stream at the surface of the body..

7 The method of treating a body of oil with sulfuric acid, which comprises centrifugally throwing the sulfuric acid above the body against an annular obstruction having its longitudinal axis substantially vertically disposed, flowing the acid down the annular obstruction, dropping the acid separately in small streams from the circumference of the annular obstruction upon the surface of the body, effecting intermixture of the liquids throughout the body by drawing the oil and added acid downwardly through the central portion of the oil, and separately withdrawingthe acid from the bottom of the vessel and the oil from the side of the vessel at the surface of the oil.

8. In combination with a container adapted to hold a reactive liquid, a distributor comprising a rotatable plate, shielding means surrounding the plate and having a serrated bottom edge, means for supplying liquid to the surface of the plate, and means for rotating the plate to throw the liquid against the shielding means.

9. A treating device, comprising a container for a mass of agitable material, an annular shield of smaller diameter than and disposed with its longitudinal axis substantially vertical in the container, the shield disposed above and terminating in spaced relation to the normal level of the material, and a rotatably mounted disc-like member within the shield spaced from the walls of the shield.

10. A treating device, comprising a container for a mass of agitable material, an annular shield of smaller diameter than and disposed with its longitudinal axis substantially vertical in the container, the shield 105 disposed above and terminating in spaced relation to the normal level of the material and having a toothed lower end, and a rotatably mounted disc-like member in the shield spaced from the walls of the shield.

11. A mixing and stirring device, comprising a container for a mass of agitable material, a rotatably mounted member of relatively small diameter in the container to cause a stream of the material in one direc- 115 tion and to set up a complementary counterstream in the opposite direction, a draft tube encircling the rotatable member, an annular shield of smaller diameter than the container, the shield disposed above the normal 12 level of material and with its longitudinal axis substantially vertical in the container, the shield terminating in spaced relation to the normal level of the material, and a rotatably mounted disc-like member in the 125 shield spaced from the walls of the shield.

12. A mixing and stirring device, comprising a container for a mass of agitable material, a rotatably mounted member of relatively small diameter in the container to 130 cause a stream of the material in one direction and to set up a complementary counterstream in the opposite direction, a draft tube encircling the rotatable member terminating below and adjoining the normal level of material in the container, an annular shield of substantially the diameter of the draft tube disposed co-axially with the draft tube, the shield disposed above and terminating in spaced relation to the normal level of the material, and a rotatably mounted disc-like member in the shield spaced from the walls of the shield.

MATTHEW n. MANN, JR. 

